November Member of the Month - Gabe Romero

Our November Member of the Month has been making some very impressive gains in the weight room, and has made some incredible strides in losing weight! Gabe recently broke out a 500lbs back squat!! Please join us in celebrating Gabe's great accomplishments.
How did you get involved in CrossFit?
A friend was doing for awhile and kept talking about it. I finally decided to give it a shot and haven't looked back since.

What was your first WOD/experience?
My first wod was an intro workout. Nothing too crazy. 250m row, 20 sit ups, 20 push ups, 20 jumping jacks and 20 body rows. It was a very humbling experience. One of my least known records is that it took me the longest to complete it out of anyone else at that gym that has initially tried it. I forgot what my final time was as they didn't tell me about it for a few months. They didn't want to discourage me which made sense heh.

When did you start coming to CrossFit Kilter/ how long have you been CrossFitting for?
I've been going to Crossfit on and off for 4 years. It's been difficult finding a gym that I've felt comfortable with. I've been at Kilter for 6 months or so? A few members that I worked out with previously elsewhere go to Kilter and they kept talking about how great the coaches were and how fun the overall atmosphere is on Facebook, so I decided to give it a try. It's been a very long time since I worked out at such a awesome place! All the coaches are very knowledgeable and encouraging. They genuinely care about everyone becoming better athletes and it shows. All the members are very encouraging as well. I still remember my first wod I was like one of the family. It was ground to overhead and box jumps. I hadn't been working out consistently for a few months so it took me awhile to finish, but everyone was there pushing me on every rep of the way!

When did you realize that CrossFit was right for you?
Although I almost had a heart attack after my first wod, I felt a sense of accomplishment. A natural high that I had to feel again! It might sound silly, but everyday I feel that sense of accomplishment after our workouts. I might not be the fastest or strongest, but I still feel proud of myself for getting the workout done not matter my time or score.

What are you short-term and long-term CrossFit goals?Short-term: My short term goal is to slim down to 300 pounds. I'm currently at 346, but I'll get down there. Chipping away one or two pounds every week! When I started at Kilter I was 371 pounds. Eventually I want to get down to 250. It would be nice to be able to buy clothes anywhere I shop!
Long-term: My long term goal is to complete in the Crossfit open with all the movements as RX. Even if I finish dead last, I'd be extremely proud of myself.

What is your biggest accomplishment?
I can't really think of anything here. There have been milestones here and there, but nothing that really stands out.
What is your favorite / least favorite WOD/movement? My favorite wod is Grace. Stand there and fling light weight over head a few times heh. My least favorite would have to be Fran. I always manage to tear my hands going all out on the pull ups for that workout.
Favorite Movements: Anything that involves heavy weight!
Least Favorite Movement: Burpees! They just suck the life out of me!

What do you do for a profession outside of CrossFit?
I'm a graphic designer. I sit at a desk all day which is I why I decided to join a gym.

What are your hobbies outside of CrossFit?
Hobbies? I enjoy bowling, pool, biking and video games.

What do you do for nutrition? Do you eat Paleo or Zone? What is your favorite paleo/non-paleo meal?
I'm currently following the Chris Powell carb cycling plan. http://chrispowell.com/carb-cycling-101/ I've been following it for a few months now and it works like a charm! I've been losing 1 - 2 pounds a week. I've also dropped 7% of my body fat. Down to 29% body fat now! It's getting harder to lose the weight, but I plan on sticking with it since the plan is so easy to follow.

Fun fact about you? I got Lasik done a few years ago so no more glasses! So nice being able to workout without having sweat dripping all over my glasses and obscuring my vision.